The Life of a Leaf

If you take the time to observe the beautiful colors, shapes, and textures of individual tree leaves, it becomes clear that they’re nothing less than wondrous works of art created by Mother Nature herself. But however beautiful, their lives are short-lived. Come winter, Mother Nature wipes the canvas clean – leaves fall from trees and are swept away by the wind, destined to wither into nothingness in her preparations of starting anew in the springtime.

But under the masterful touch of Indonesian artist Adek Dimas Ajisaka, the ephemeral beauty of leaves are not only preserved but amplified to new levels. Ajisaka breathes a second life into fallen leaves by using them as canvases for his impossibly detailed works, which range from standard portraits to replicas of Frida Kahlo’s iconic paintings.

“It all started from my desire to explore a variety of mediums,” he recalls of his initial inspirations. “I wanted to create on unexpected canvases, so I began considering what could be used as substitutes. Through experimenting, I finally began using leaves in 2014. I only drew on them in the beginning, but I wasn’t quite satisfied by that. Then, the idea to carve images onto them happened.”

While it’s possible for many different types of leaves can be used, Ajisaka favors teak leaves. Their wide surface area, inherent texture, and sturdiness have made it an ideal medium for him.

Ajisaka attributes the project’s success to a willingness to experiment and receiving the encouragement to do so. But like many other talented individuals, Ajisaka’s ambitious nature continues to expand his personal creative boundaries. He tells us, “It was helpful that the project was strongly supported by my school, the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta, but I experimented a lot. I still try to find new and interesting subjects all the time. I want to make even more art outside of this medium. On the side, I’ve also been practicing a bit of traditional illustration, sculptures, and other various crafts.”

Being that leaves are such a brittle medium, it may come as no surprise that the toughest aspect of the creation process is for Ajisaka to maintain a steady hand. Any mistake, however minor, can result in the entire leaf being damaged and the work ruined. Aside from the meticulous care that needs to be taken during the creation process, preserving the completed artwork can be equally difficult – he employs special chemicals to embalm each leaf after he’s done with cutting. The chemical hardens it and prevents the leaf from further decay. “It’s similar to how paintings are finished off,” he tells us. “I also layer it with a varnish for extra protection so my leaves can last a long time.”

Despite the painstaking process behind each piece of leaf art, Ajisaka has no plans of stopping. “For me, creating with leaves just feels way more enjoyable,” he tells us. “It’s a unique medium and finishing something feels really rewarding.”